NEWTON TOWNSHIP
Vacant EMT Position May Be Filled Soon
By Ryan Schlehuber

Newton Township may fill its need for a local emergency medical technician (EMT), although the applicant is a non-resident, said Township Fire Chief Neil McArthur at a board meeting Wednesday, July 11. The board also heard from its new cemetery sexton, Richard Oliver, who defended himself against complaints made by some residents during last month's board meeting.

Aaron Oberle of Garfield Township, a certified EMT, is interested in being the Newton Township's sole EMT, Mr. McArthur told the board, however, the fire department will have to amend its bylaws because, as they are written now, EMTs must be Newton Township residents.

Changing the bylaws should be no trouble, Township Supervisor Bob Brotherton said, considering the benefits the township will enjoy with having a new EMT, its first one since October 2006, when Paula Ramelis held the position. Mrs. Ramelis retired after serving 20 years as an EMT for Portage and Newton townships.

Mr. Oberle will need to apply to the Newton Township Fire Department to be added to the township's roster of emergency response officials, said Mr. Brotherton. Mr. Oberle is a member of the Garfield Township emergency medical staff.

Mr. Oberle must make Newton Township a priority when on call for the community, and cannot abandon his responsibilities if called to an emergency outside of Newton Township, Mr. McArthur and Mr. Brotherton agreed. Mr. McArthur said he will talk with Mr. Oberle about the stipulations, and said it should not be a problem.

Resident Fred Strickland, a licensed EMT who is not a member of any township ambulance corps, expressed his displeasure about being told by Mr. Brotherton that he is not allowed to interact on the radio frequency that official emergency responders use.

"You can't be a rogue EMT guy," Mr. Brotherton said to Mr. Strickland. "You have to belong to an ambulance group if you are going to use the radios."

Mr. Brotherton told Mr. Strickland that, like Mr. Oberle, he is welcome to apply to the fire department.

The board took no action on the subject.

Richard Oliver, newly hired sexton for the township cemetery, attended the meeting and explained grave maintenance procedures that were questioned by residents at the township's June meeting.

Concerns aired last month from some residents that a teenager was hired to prepare a grave for a June funeral and that tire tracks on grave sites left by a vehicle were caused by the sexton were untrue, said Mr. Oliver.

At the township's June meeting, several residents complained following a June funeral about scattered flowers, a gravesite left unfinished, and tire tracks on some graves.

Mr. Oliver, who was hired as the township sexton in June, said he did as best he could to maintain the new grave and that the tire tracks were not his fault. He pointed out that he kept working, even as a "torrential downpour" took place on the day in question.

The flowers, he said, may have been scattered by the storm and that he placed the flowers on the graves out of respect.

"I worked at a funeral home for 14 years at one time, so I have a lot of respect for that and for the job I do," Mr. Oliver said.

As for the tire tracks, Mr. Oliver said the man who delivered the vault, may have driven over some graves. He said he will advise the funeral director and the vault company as to the best routes to reach a grave without disturbing other graves.

He also explained that he left excess sand and soil on the grave until it settled.

"I went back the next week and leveled it out," he said.

Township Supervisor Bob Brotherton came to Mr. Oliver's defense.

"I think Dick did a great job, he has been very dedicated," said Mr. Brotherton. "You have to remember, this was his first grave and he did it without any guidance. Right when he was hired, there was a funeral, so he didn't have much time to prepare."

The board agreed to provide Mr. Oliver with new boards and hinges to be used for burials.

Mr. Brotherton announced that the township's efforts to secure sections of land near the township ball field have hit a snag, as Dale Laidlaw, who recently agreed to give the township 15 feet of his adjoining property to allow for more parking, must first get clearance to do so from Mary Ball, who has a $15,000 lien against him.

For the township to move forward, Ms. Ball must sign off on the deal, said Mr. Brotherton, however, she is refusing to do so until Mr. Laidlaw pays the $15,000.

The board agreed to offer Ms. Ball $5,000 to sign off on the 15- foot land easement. Mr. Brotherton said he will contact her about the board's offer.

The board will send a letter of appreciation and an official acknowledgment of the donation of two lots of land by Dr. Thomas Latus. He donated land to the township to help with the parking space problems at the ball field.

Dr. Latus, who resides in Florida but has family ties in Gould City, donated a 65-foot by 120-foot lot and a 65-foot by 74- foot. He wrote the township asking for an official acknowledgment of his gift for tax purposes.

Newton Township has purchased two 40-acre parcels of land five miles south of Gould City on South Gould City Road for $2,300 from Mackinac County, reported Nora Massey of the county treasurer's office Wednesday, July 18.

During the meeting, Mr. Brotherton announced that the township made an offer to purchase the land, which reverted to the county when the owners failed to pay property taxes. The county held an auction on the two parcels Tuesday, July 17.

The township plans to use the land to create public nature trails.

The board agreed to begin accepting bids for the replacement of the township hall roof.